SEPTEMBER 2, 1936

NEW YORK—After my picnickers left me yesterday I was just going to quietly dress and go to New York, when a car
drove up and in it were my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. David Gray. They had just come up from Florida and were on their way to our old home at Tivoli,
which now belongs to Mrs. Gray. It was a joy to see them, and we talked of this and
that until I realized if I did not file my column some one would be calling me on
the telephone to reprimand me for tardiness and they woke up to the fact that they
must drive on some twenty-five miles up the River to get home before dark.

So we got into our respective cars and went in opposite directions, I to the telegraph
office and then back to the house, a hurried change into city clothes, a goodbye to
my grandchildren and my mother-in-law and off to the station. Ten o'clock found me
at my apartment in New York City.

Miss Lape joined me this morning at eight-fifteen for our coffee on the porch, and just as
I was sallying forth very hurriedly a voice said to me: "Mrs. Roosevelt, couldn't I give you a lift?"
And the gentleman who lives in an apartment on the first floor was standing by his
car at our door. Very gratefully I got in, and was whizzed up to my daughter's apartment, to pick up a member of my family and take him to the executioner, so
to speak, for he has to have four wisdom teeth extracted in the course of the next
few days. She and I had great difficulty prodding our unwilling victim into hurrying to our unpleasant appointment, but we arrived
on time! The dentist, Dr. Wilbur Dailey, exclaimed over this unusual occurance and the victim said ruefully: "Mother brought
me!"

I am always an optimist and hope that things will go smoothly and as a matter of fact
they did and two wisdom teeth were extracted today. But it took until twelve o'clock
and then we had to go back to the house and start in on half hourly treatments which
must continue for the rest of the day. By the time every one was instructed and a
little diagram of what should be done was made out, I was late for a twelve-thirty
appointment with Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, Junior. However, we got together for a little while and then after a little shopping I went
in to headquarters where I had several appointments.

One of these was interesting to me for so few people in this world put themselves
out to do something themselves for another human being. They will write a letter or
draw a check, they will go and see someone if it is convenient, but to take a long train journey of over twelve hours to come
and tell me the story of a friend in order that I may be sufficiently interested to
help that friend is giving of oneself in a rare way. So one of my visitors left me with renewed respect for those people who will take the trouble to do something for a friend at the cost of personal inconvenience. Now
I must go back to my daughter's apartment for the rest of the day and evening.

Source Note:
Transcription created from a photocopy of a draft version of a My Day column instance
archived at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.
My Day column draft dated September 1, 1936, FDR Library, Hyde Park, NY
TMsd, 1 September 1936, AERP, FDRL